He'd signed a six-year deal with CTV Inc., with the prime-time host's role for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics the centrepiece of it all (he'll also handle the same duties for London 2012).

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Williams called it Monday, all the while making it clear "this is nothing bad about CBC, it's about something good (at CTV).

"I was happy there."

He just didn't want his "Olympic ride" to end with Beijing 2008, two years away from the grandest Games show we might ever see in this country. Neither did Canadians he'd meet on the street who'd ask, with hope in their voice, whether he'd be there for them in Vancouver.

Williams expressed the hope that he'd man the studio for one last season of CFL games for the CBC, with the Grey Cup in Winnipeg as his network swan song.

Lee, however, was on record as saying she'd need to think about it first.

Fair enough.

Yesterday, the CBC announced the role would instead go to Elliotte Friedman, its fine Hockey Night in Canada reporter.

Again, fair enough.

Lee phoned Williams at his Toronto home to inform him he was being taken off the CFL broadcasts. When he asked what else might be available for him to fill his remaining time with CBC, Williams said he was told "I'll let you know in a few minutes by fax."

A fax that turned out to be, essentially, his termination notice.

"It's surprising ... that's all I'll say," Williams told the Sun yesterday, choosing his words carefully. "I'm not in a position to say anything further.

"I expected to do the CFL season, but that's their decision. I'm moving forward."

Also worth noting here: When Williams accepted CTV's offer (and he had a six-month window in his contract during which he could leave CBC), he did it with two conditions. That nothing be done to diminish his attention to the CFL, and that he tell Lee in person first. CTV Inc. boss Rick Brace agreed to both.

Williams described Lee's manner during that meeting as "completely professional. No surprise."

Forgive him if that opinion's changed now.

Wouldn't yours?

THE WORLD'S CUP: There's a sense this might be the most-anticipated World Cup ever in these parts, and TSN analyst Dick Howard knows one good reason why -- beyond the obvious, that is. "There's so much soccer on TV now, and people know all the players," he said. "Half the players are in the top five leagues in Europe, which are on TV every weekend. They're all household names." ... The World Cup final attracted an audience of 1.5 million in 1998 in France. With the event back in more time-friendly Europe, Howard believes the July 9 final in Berlin could eclipse that mark. "I think it could be two million this year," he said of the match, which will be broadcast on CTV.

PUCK DROPPINGS: The Edmonton Oilers took a huge hit on Wednesday night and so, too, did the CBC. After reeling in a playoff-high audience of 3.033 million for Game 1 of the Oilers-Hurricanes Stanley Cup final, Hockey Night in Canada saw its number skid to an average of 2.189 million for a far-less competitive Game 2. Needless to say, the Oilers -- and CBC -- need a big turnaround tomorrow night.

AROUND THE DIAL: The Score unveiled a sharper-looking new ticker earlier this week. While the added content is appreciated, perhaps the best change is this: The ticker's depth will shrink when the network is showing a live sports event ... Rogers Cable is moving The Golf Channel to its digital tier later this month to make way for MTV Canada. And who says the kids don't rule in TV Land?